BajaNomad

travelers being inspected by Mexican authorities at border?

Santiago - 2-23-2025 at 06:59 AM

Have received a few reports recently that motorists in border line northbound are being inspected by Mexican military prior to getting to the border kiosks. One report was 3 hours to cross at Tecate, his luggage was opened and his car carefully gone thru as were all the other vehicles. Same person crosses a couple of dozen times per year, has happened to him in Arizona as well (not sure the crossing point).
Anyone else know of this?

bajatrailrider - 2-23-2025 at 08:01 AM

We crossed middle of week Tecate zero inspection 10 min wait. On same day return baja at TJ no inspections letting all cars pass.

Ateo - 2-23-2025 at 08:16 AM

Yes. Came back at Otay yesterday. Line was backed up further than I had ever seen it…..I dropped my traveler partner off at the walking line and took Sentri.

It took her about 1.5 hours walking in a line that looked like a normal 20 minute line.

The regular auto lanes looked like a nasty mess. The Mexicans were inspecting EVERY car.

Sentri took about 45 minutes

Tioloco - 2-23-2025 at 08:21 AM

Approximately 20 Mexican soldiers at the San Luis crossing. Inspecting northbound vehicles more thoroughly than the US Customs.

mtgoat666 - 2-23-2025 at 08:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Santiago  
Have received a few reports recently that motorists in border line northbound are being inspected by Mexican military prior to getting to the border kiosks. One report was 3 hours to cross at Tecate, his luggage was opened and his car carefully gone thru as were all the other vehicles. Same person crosses a couple of dozen times per year, has happened to him in Arizona as well (not sure the crossing point).
Anyone else know of this?


Changes due to trump. Expect more changes, more inspections.

Trump demanded that mexico intercept smugglers or else he would tax usa consumers of mexican goods (impose tariffs on mexican goods).
Mexico has responded with promise to combat smuggling, to prevent taxation of usa citizens who consume mexican goods.

Is Mexico actually cracking down on drugs heading north?

AKgringo - 2-23-2025 at 08:45 AM

If so, the drug smugglers are probably already making adjustments to their supply chain.

Alm - 2-23-2025 at 09:34 AM

Probably unrelated but I was inspected at the Southbound Mexicali West in early November by soldiers INSTEAD of regular customs officers. This was way before "that guy" took the office in January.

Looked like the Mex govt had realized that soldiers were clueless at those many roadblocks and decided to train them. Soldiers were indeed clueless, opening boxes and bags where there is never anything, while ignoring other. Eventually he was stumped at a dozen of over the counter vitamins and supplements, and (especially) two car insurances - one regular and one for Mexico. He called up the customs officer who laughed at the vitamins, briefly explained him about Mex insurance and waved me through. Took about 20-25 minutes.

[Edited on 2-23-2025 by Alm]

JZ - 2-23-2025 at 09:53 AM

Fentanyl kills 70,000 young people per year.

That's what this is about.




[Edited on 2-23-2025 by JZ]

For what it is worth.....

AKgringo - 2-23-2025 at 09:56 AM

I crossed into Baja the last week of December and crossed again northbound in mid-January. On the entire loop I drove through northern to mid Baja, I was surprised how seldom I even had to come to a complete stop at any inspection stations, and never had my vehicle searched!

Alm - 2-23-2025 at 11:21 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
I crossed into Baja the last week of December and crossed again northbound in mid-January. On the entire loop I drove through northern to mid Baja, I was surprised how seldom I even had to come to a complete stop at any inspection stations, and never had my vehicle searched!

Went down to mid-Baja in November, circled around a little in December and went to the border in mid-January. Was stopped at all the usual roadblocks (by "usual" I mean that at some blocks they rarely stop in certain direction i.e. either Northbound or Southbound). Vehicle was never searched but they rarely did this before either, opening tinted windows was enough. Soldiers acting as customs officers in Mexicali was, well, interesting ;). Hopefully this won't become a routine.

Alm - 2-23-2025 at 11:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Fentanyl kills 70,000 young people per year.

That's what this is about.




[Edited on 2-23-2025 by JZ]

Yes, this was Trump's argument to justify the tariffs. The facts behind his claims are a different matter. Here is an interesting article: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/02/nx-s1-5283957/fentanyl-trump-...

[Edited on 2-23-2025 by Alm]

JZ - 2-23-2025 at 12:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
[/rquote]
Yes, this was Trump's argument to justify the tariffs. The facts behind his claims are a different matter. Here is an interesting article: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/02/nx-s1-5283957/fentanyl-trump-...



Here is an "interesting" article on NPR, written by an NPR editor/whistle blower. Don't trust everything you read. :light:

NPR whistleblower highlights everything wrong with journalism today
https://nbcmontana.com/news/armstrong-army-strong/npr-whistl...



[Edited on 2-23-2025 by JZ]

Ateo - 2-23-2025 at 02:12 PM

Let's see if Fetanyl death decline because of this. This can be measured...............I doubt it! Americans are sad as hell and using whatever they can do dull the pain. Wonder why our government can't do anything about that? I'd say because it's very costly and people don't care about trying to rehabilitate addicts because it's mostly a losing battle. Some make it though. I love addicts by the way.......they're our neighbors, friends, family, teachers, doctors, cashiers................US!

Tioloco - 2-23-2025 at 02:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ateo  
Americans are sad as hell and using whatever they can do dull the pain.


What? That sounds like a horrible outlook.

ligui - 2-23-2025 at 03:29 PM

JZ that's their own fault ! Do the drugs it's your as- Do the crime do the time.

And if you think that guy cares you make me laugh :biggrin:

JZ - 2-23-2025 at 03:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ligui  
JZ that's their own fault ! Do the drugs it's your as- Do the crime do the time.

And if you think that guy cares you make me laugh :biggrin:


A lot have no idea it's spiked with Fentanyl. Try to have some compassion.

ligui - 2-23-2025 at 04:38 PM

Have some compassion for Mexico being bullied !

Why not sit down and have a discussion with the countries that have been neighbors and friends for years

Not threatening . That solves nothing only creates more problems.

Not knowing it could be spiked with fentanyl I don't believe that. Everyone sees it on social media and even the new guy knows it and he doesn't even read

Just say no ! Don't blame it on someone else


Viva Mexico

mtgoat666 - 2-23-2025 at 07:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ligui  
Have some compassion for Mexico being bullied !

Why not sit down and have a discussion with the countries that have been neighbors and friends for years

Not threatening . That solves nothing only creates more problems.

Not knowing it could be spiked with fentanyl I don't believe that. Everyone sees it on social media and even the new guy knows it and he doesn't even read

Just say no ! Don't blame it on someone else


Viva Mexico


Sometimes I think we will have to suffer thru 4 yrs of the wanna-be-kings. But at the rate the clowns are destroying things, world trade should be thoroughly destabilized in under a year, and the wanna-be-kings will be reigned in by the midterm results.
I have already seen delayed revenue in my business, amounting to 1+ month of revenue in 2025. I figure many businesses in usa will suffer about 10% lower sales this year due to economic disruption delaying purchasing decisions…
The results are going to be ugly…



[Edited on 2-24-2025 by mtgoat666]

Alm - 2-23-2025 at 09:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
[/rquote]
Yes, this was Trump's argument to justify the tariffs. The facts behind his claims are a different matter. Here is an interesting article: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/02/nx-s1-5283957/fentanyl-trump-...



Here is an "interesting" article on NPR, written by an NPR editor/whistle blower. Don't trust everything you read. .....]

You are missing the point, Trump and his team are lying to justify the tariffs. Like the reporter said, "misstated key facts about the fentanyl crisis". There are links to external sources in that NPR article for anybody who wants to check.

JZ - 2-23-2025 at 09:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
[/rquote]
Yes, this was Trump's argument to justify the tariffs. The facts behind his claims are a different matter. Here is an interesting article: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/02/nx-s1-5283957/fentanyl-trump-...



Here is an "interesting" article on NPR, written by an NPR editor/whistle blower. Don't trust everything you read. .....]

You are missing the point, Trump and his team are lying to justify the tariffs. Like the reporter said, "misstated key facts about the fentanyl crisis". There are links to external sources in that NPR article for anybody who wants to check.


Trusting NPR is not a smart thing to do.

Read what the NPR whistle blower said about them. NPR needs to be defunded.

Legacy media is beyond corrupt.

Alm - 2-23-2025 at 09:15 PM

Right on JZ, attack the source, not the matter at hand. I should've known better :)

JZ - 2-23-2025 at 09:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
Right on JZ, attack the source, not the matter at hand. I should've known better :)


The source is everything. The source has an agenda.

NPR told us Covid came from a bat. Think man.

JZ - 2-23-2025 at 10:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
I should've known better :)

Yes, you should've! What's wrong with you, trying to have a civil discussion here? :lol:


Who isn't being "civil."

chatolj - 2-24-2025 at 01:28 PM

Just crossed north bound at San Ysidro. No sign of Mex military. 20 minutes in Sentri lane.

WideAngleWandering - 2-25-2025 at 09:09 AM

That's good to hear. I've also been watching the book face group for Tecate wait times and there hasn't been anything reported. And on a semi related note, the INM inspection tent that was in Santa Rosalia a few months ago is gone now.

And while this may be peeing in the wind, I sure do wish the political wazoos would keep their opinions in the off topic forum where it can be more easily ignored!